Colorado Parks and Wildlife declared an emergency public fish salvage for a reservoir in drought-ridden Huerfano County to increase depleted water supplies in Walsenburg and La Veta, the agency announced on Friday.

CPW said a combination of extreme drought and municipal water needs caused the reservoir to be drawn from to supply water to those two communities. Officials noted that the Wahatoya Reservoir had already been drained for the same reason, and so they moved to the Daigre Reservoir for more resources.

In a news release, CPW officials stated those conditions made them realize the Daigre Reservoir's "entire fishery" could be lost, prompting the emergency salvage. The reservoir is home to tiger muskie, bass, trout, and bluegill. "The fish belong to the public, and we want to provide anglers the opportunity to harvest as many fish as possible before declining water levels potentially cause us to lose the fishery," CPW Aquatic Biologist Carrie Tucker stated in the release.

The measure has temporarily suspended size, bag, and possession limits at the Daigre Reservoir for Colorado fishing license holders. Restrictions on artificial flies, lures, and bait — excluding live baitfish — have also been temporarily lifted, though no live fish can be used for bait at waters east of the Continental Divide above 7,000 feet in elevation.

CPW also plans to conduct fish salvage operations where practical and relocate fish to other public waters, with officials expecting recovered fish to be restocked into Martin Reservoir and Horseshoe Lake at Lathrop State Park.

CPW said it will make an announcement when the salvage has concluded or conditions have improved.